NBA Playoffs: Are They Ready?

NBA playoffs, where good players turn into all stars and hopefully become legends. The 2013 NBA playoffs is no exception. This post-season the eyes of NBA fans and pens of analysis experts will be busy looking for the next all star or legend to rise to the occasion. In the postseason games become tighter, you see the same anoying opponent for a week, match-ups become more intense and only the best survive. The NBA regular season is simply regular, the postseason well that's where the real action begins. Opponents really zone in on a players weaknesses and strengths every move is examined and calculated in film rooms. Players go to sleep and wake-up thinking of only their opponent, tempers flair and rivals begin. Athletes must be ready to accept the challenge, the only question is are they ready?

Blake Griffin: Los Angeles Clippers ultra athletic power forward popularly known for his great highlight dunks has to be more than just a highlight show. During the 2012 NBA playoffs Griffin averaged 19.1pts, 6.9rebs and 0.9blks against the Memphis Grizzlies. Griffin has to do better 0.9blks by a ferocious athletic freak of nature is not a a glowing endorsement for "Defensive Player of Year". Controlling the paint is an area where he must excel, requesting a near double-double with 1.5 - 2.0 blocks per game is not much for Clippers fans to request from their all star athlete.
NOTE: Statistically Griffin is currently having his worst NBA season 18pts, and 8.3 rebs below career avaerages of 20.4pts and 10.4 rebs.

Josh Smith: Atlanta Hawks highlight to the "Highlight Factory" one of the best all around athletes in the NBA. Criticized for his lack of decision making and ill-timed shooting must make a significant contribution in the postseason. Smith is a 9yr NBA veteran playing in his sixth straight post season appearance with Atlanta. In 5 of 6 NBA playoff post seasons Smith's numbers have dipped from regular season stats. While most NBA star athletes raise their level of play in the playoffs Smith has a track record performing the opposite. This postseason Smith must takeover in order for the Hawks to advance past the Indiana Pacers. Stuffing the regular season with stats is awesome to watch but stuffing stats in the NBA playoffs will make you an "All Star".
NOTE: Smith believes his talents are All Star written but NBA playoff numbers tell the real story.

James Harden: Former Sixth Man of Year, Olympic Gold Medalist, NBA Finals appearance, and NBA All Star. Most of Harden's awards were achieved as a member of Oklahoma City Thunder playing next to friends Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. Now he Harden is OKC Thunder "Enemy of the State". Before the regular season started Harden wanted to be more than just a member of the "3 Stooges" he wanted his own stage. Well Harden welcome to the big stage first opponent OKC Thunder. Defeating Westbrook and Durant's Thunder in Western Conference playoffs could make Harden an instant NBA legend or at least make him unforgettable in NBA history.
NOTE: Harden career postseason career averages 13.8pts, 1.3stls, 3.3ast, and 4.8rebs (Thunder)

Follow us on Twitter @JMCSPORTSBOOK or feel free to leave a comment below

Twitter link: http://twitter.com/#!/JMCSPORTSBOOK 

Listen to Clenaure Carter and Jarvis Davis "Sports Uncut" podcast on GellarSportsRadio.com

Also check out Pro Sports Lives (Atlanta GA 1190AM) at http://www.prosportslives.com/ every Saturday 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST....

Josh Smith 2012 NBA All Star snub seems to be overlooked in the Atlanta sports media market.  Talk to anyone who follows the Atlanta Hawks and they will say Josh has great potential and fans are waiting for more. What are the fans waiting for, Josh to average 20 pts per game and snatch 12 rebounds per contest?

If Josh played in New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago he would be a two time All Star playing for a big market team. Instead Josh is the perfect example of a hot talent in a underperforming sports media market. Atlanta fans were recently accused by sports media reporters as being “a bad sports town”. Residents in Atlanta claim that Atlanta is a transient city full of out of town citizens creating a gap in fan support.

During the CBA agreement David Stern lobbied for more growth in underperforming markets like Atlanta, New Orleans and Milwaukee. Commissioner Stern and Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert made resounding remarks during the lockout making a case that underperforming and smaller markets should be the new focus in the NBA. If small underperforming markets are the NBA’s new focus then Josh being snubbed from the All Star game roster after averaging 16.0 ppg, 9.5 reb, 1.5 stls and 2.1 blks is a slap to the NBA’s new direction.

Atlanta Hawks have one of the top records in the Eastern Conference. Josh continues to be a huge contributing factor for the Hawks stepping into a leadership role with the absence of injured NBA All Star center Al Horford.  Josh is no longer the player waiting on the arrival of his Oak Hill Academy potential he has arrived.